Double Dating January 2, 2009

Let me give you a  few facts about our favorite couple to double date with:

* They can and do stay up later than us most every night
* Their stories can keep us laughing for days
* They always let us choose the place to eat
*They are in the 80′s

My grandparents have more life in them than I do at times. They have wisdom that only comes with years. My grandfather served in two different wars and the stories he tells us mesmerize me. I am always sucked in as they recount how they purchased their first house and eventually came to be where they are now. They grew up on farms and now live in a wealthy part of the state. My grandmother could not carry a child so they adopted…twice!
When Heath and I were first dating, we would go out to their house and have a double date. They would brag to all their friends that their granddaughter was coming. I would brag to all my friends I was going to visit them. During that time our relationship grew from family to friendship. My grandmother gave me a Bridal lunch at a Bed & Breakfast in Brentwood and attended every bridal shower I had. She also attended my baby showers. Our wedding gift was money to purchase a washer and dryer. The gifts were wonderful but I have to admit to you that their time was more precious than any other gift. During our first year of marriage our budget was tight. Going out to eat was something that was a treat. My grandparents loved for us to come and eat with them. So about once a month we visited them. We would start with dinner and end with dominos and laughter.
After the boys were born we were not able to visit as often but we try to make it a priority. The other week my parents kept the boys and we went out just the four of us again…something I do not think we have done in years. We arrived around 2 and went to lunch (or dinner for my grandparents) and then headed back to their house. We played dominos and listened to stories. Around 7 that night my grandfather asked if we were ready for supper…off to a pizza place for supper!

Last night we took the boys out to their house for dinner and to visit them. For the first time, my grandfather shared about the war with Isaiah. He showed him medals and patches and even let Isaiah wear one of his hats. I saw pictures I had never seen and heard new stories while we sat on the couch together. Isaiah soon jumped up from the couch to go play and my grandfather and I continued to talk (or rather I continued to listen).

And then he stood up.

And the realization that he is growing older washed over me. He is weaker…more frail. His hands are often shaking and he walks much slower. And I felt older…in a way I can’t fully explain. Yet his eyes have the same sparkle they did when I was a little girl. When Silas is sitting on his lap he looks as if he was made to have little boys surround him.

Double dates now include the boys. My grandmother still brags to her friends that her granddaughter is coming. She also takes any chance she is given to tell everyone that the little boys sitting at her table are her great grandchildren! And I am still bragging on them as not just my grandparents but some of my best friends.

Taken on our last double date with them at Pie in the Sky Pizza!

2009 Brings Changes January 1, 2009

Being the oldest sibling, I was the first child to ‘move out’ of my parents house. I can still remember how hard it was to tell my parents I was moving a little over an hour away. At that time the distance seemed so great. Of course, we soon realized that the distance was extremely short and we would see each other often. My sister now lives over 8 hours away and my brother is off at college out of state. I think I just always believed my family would always be in Nashville.

June 30 of this year was the day my father was laid off. I can still remember him sharing the news with joy rather than bitterness. He truly believed that God was in control and that he was being given a gift…time with mom. He firmly believed that God would provide for his family and that God would open the doors to a new job in His time. My dad remained faithful to that…and I learned much from his quietness these last few months.  He searched this area for a new position but to no avail. He either didn’t have all the credentials or he was over qualified. He began looking elsewhere…even out of state! As December drew to a close he was offered a job…almost 4 hours away. It was the best Christmas gift ever, he would have a steady job with a good company.

I have to tell you it is completely bitter sweet. The moments of happiness alternate with sadness so quickly it can make my stomach turn. We are all entering into a new phase of our relationships. I am entering in a new phase as a daughter and mother. Sometimes it is hard because I want to cry and laugh and I just can’t get them out at the same time. And I feel totally selfish…and childish even. There was a comfort knowing that my parents were so close.

And then, I realize I am just fooling myself. It is not about distance. My in laws (whom I love dearly and count as important to me as any other family) live 10 minutes from me. It is not about relationships, my boys know and love my sister and they only see her a couple times a year. It is not about babysitters or last minute help.

It is simply that I will miss them. Bottom line, I just never saw them moving away. As Heath and I built our family here I just always believed they would be here for the long haul. And now, here I am as a child letting go of my parents in a new way. A way that is stretching me and causing me to go through a myriad of emotions. A way that is having me rethink how I will walk through 2009.

Christmas Giving November 19, 2008

A couple weeks ago my sister sent an email to my family. Here is a portion of it

First, I want to encourage all of us to really think about what we give each other this year. Answer some questions before you go buy something for anyone.

1. Is this something they will really use?
2. Is it something that will either, a, be consumed, or b, be valuable and last a long time?
3. Is it something that is needed?
4. What are the things that the other person would really love to receive?

I think we all get caught up in getting people things that are big and expensive, as a way to try and show our love for each other. Which is kind of funny, because especially over the last few years, I have seen each of our love for each other displayed in amazing ways. Let’s use the gifts this year as a token of that, but not get caught up in the gift itself.

She then suggested that we make a wish list on Amazon. You can find just about anything on there. Sometimes the quantities are large, though. We are just using our lists for ideas. Her ideas are phenomenal. She has things from razor blades and laundry detergent to granola bars and jeans. If they don’t have it on Amazon, you can easily add their Universal Wish List button. It is a button that goes on your toolbar. As you are on other sites you can add that item to your wish list. On the wish list it will just state that you go to another site. You can even add places you might like to have money donated (NURU tops my sister’s list!).

Christmas is being revolutionized in our house this year. Heath and I still plan to buy each of the boy’s a gift but I doubt they will receive more than one or two from us. We are thinking more and more about how to buy what people need rather than what we think they would like. I get excited when I think about this year’s gift giving. It used to stress me out. With the Amazon lists I have several ideas!

How do you decide what to give people?

Works for me! Check out more ideas here!

There Will Be A Day October 21, 2008

I heard this song late last week and I knew immediately I wanted to put it on my blog. Give me a good build in music, great lyrics and a choir feel and I am almost sold. I think we can all think of things that we go through that are hard. I am not talking about the kids screaming and the dishes needing to be done hard. I am talking about the things that test your faith. And for me, brought me to a place of questioning who God was and if He really cared. Those were some dark days as I battled with the idea of abandonment. When these lines came on I had to fight back the tears.

I know the journey seems so long, you feel you’re walking on your own.
There has never been a step where you’ve walked out all alone

It took me several months to get to a place in my heart that I truly believed God was with me…in every trial and every setback. Towards the end of that time, I read a verse anew in the Bible. Hebrews 13:8 says that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. I had memorized that verse as a teen…and yet as an adult it struck me differently. I put my own spin on it…and still do. I personalized it…or maybe just modernized it. Here is my version:

‘God didn’t check out today. He didn’t think it was time for a vacation and leave me to fend for myself. He cares just as deeply about me today as He did 6 months ago, 6 years ago. His character has not failed, His integrity has not failed. His compassion and mercy renewed every morning. His loves still pours for me. His heart still aches with me. His tears flows alongside mine. He is still here…He has not left’

It took several months to get to where I could make that verse personal. Once I did, I never looked back. There will still some hard days but I found joy. During those months I simply had to get to where I believed that there would be a day that was better than today. A day when the pain of those around me would cease to exist. I learned to trust in the unseen and let go of trying to comprehend what Heaven might entail.

I think the following line really wraps this up well:

I can’t wait until that day when the very One I’ve lived for always will wipe away the sorrow I face

To touch the scars that rescued me from a life of shame and misery

Love prevails October 14, 2008

Today I am celebrating my 8 year anniversary with Heath. Well, we are not actually celebrating today instead he chose to surprise me this past Sunday. Around 315 in the afternoon he told me to get dinner out for the boys, take a shower and get ready because Bailey would be at our house at 430pm. I sat there with my mouth wide open and just laughed in shock. He had pulled one over on me!

This was something that several friends were actually in on. The plan for the night was to go to small group where our friend Bryan would be leading. Heath emailed his wife, Chrissy, and let her know we would not be there and why. When I saw her on Sunday we talked about group and she never let on that she knew! Add to that our friends Rusty and Bethany who coordinating getting their daughter, Bailey, here! Rusty’s first words to me when they arrived were ‘did it work?’.

This was also the first time we ever left the boys with a sitter other than family…or our friends Alan and Carrie. However, I was not nervous. There is a not a better and more responsible teen that I know other than Bailey.

We went to Bonefish Grill for dinner, a place we had been wanting to try for months! We topped it off with a trip to Marble Slab Creamery for dessert. It was just a perfect night!

While we were at dinner we talked about how we had changed since we said our ‘I dos’ years before. Friends have come and gone. We have lost loved ones and welcomed three wonderful boys into our lives. Our jobs have changed multiple times. I had to evolve my way of thinking.

I love where we are now…and I can not wait to see what 8 more years will bring. Heath, I love you more every day. You faith and belief in me is propelling. You words of honesty are laced with love and the net you provide when I fall is invaluable. I love how your desire to make me laugh is contagious with our boys. I appreciate how you can sit quietly by my side as tears stream down my face. Thank you for allowing me to grow and become the woman I am today. I love you.

Works For Me Wednesday: Kitchen Help October 1, 2008

It is a themed Works for Me Wednesday here and I am thrilled about it! Not so much because I feel like I have to greatest information about kitchens but more because I am so excited to read all the other great ideas! However, I feel I should at least give you some things that help my kitchen run smooth (or at least some semblance of smooth!). And how better to do that than with bullet points (oh, I love you bullet points!).

* Reynold’s Freezer Bags. I blogged about this here but I feel like I should say it again. These have revolutionized my freezer. I bought all my meat for the month at one time and I was able to divide all the meat up into each meal. Now I just reach into my freezer and everything is portioned perfectly. I even diced all the chicken needed for meals so I can grab it too…because with three little guys in my house, all the prep work that can be done is a huge help.
* Menu Plan! I think this is a huge step for keeping my kitchen running smoothly. I used to menu at the beginning of every week. This month I actually planned for the entire month! I am excited to see how it works. I keep a little pad with each day listed. On each day, I have breakfast (even if it is cereal), lunches and dinners planned. I can look at it each morning and grab meat from the freezer to thaw during the day. The best part about planning is that I am not worried about what to fix for dinner at 4pm. One of the best sites for this is Organizing Junkie. I always get great ideas from that site on Mondays!
* Keep a couple quick meals. I always try to keep one or two quick meals on hand for the nights that something unexpected comes up. These can vary from month to month but it might be a frozen pizza or a box of beans and rice. It is generally something that takes very little effort but will satisfy all the hungry tummies in our house.
*Cleaning out food areas. I try to clean out my fridge every week (the day before trash pickup), my pantry every other week and my freezer once a month. It seems a little tedious but it is not so bad once you get in a routine. The best thing is that I always know what I have on hand and what I need to purchase. I also never have food that is molded or out of date.
* Keep things in the same place. I am not sure how many times I have ‘lost’ something only to find that I had put it in a different place but I can tell you it has happened often.

It all works for me to keep things running smooth in my kitchen. What works for you? Head over to Rocks in My Dryer for more ideas!

I’ve been tagged! September 12, 2008

My sister tagged me last week…I needed to come up with 6 random things about myself. And since I would hate to deal with the consequences of not doing this post I love my sister, I decided it best to come up with the random items! Here is the catch, what do you want to know that you already don’t? I have been puzzled for some time now…yet, I did come up with some things…here they are. But first, the rules:

1. Post the rules on your blog
2. Write 6 random things about yourself
3. Tag 6 people at the end of your post
4. If you’re tagged, DO IT and pass on the tag

Did you see the ‘do it’ in all capital letters…I am wondering if that was for me!

1. I am a totally serious person…humor evades me most days. I actually believe that since having kids I am able to laugh more. Growing up I was always the ‘serious’ one of my friends and most of the time deemed ‘more responsible or more grown up’ than the rest.
2. I L-O-V-E NY & Company! That store could be my second home…and be the thing that bankrupts me if I am not careful. I always knew I loved the store but I didn’t know it came across to my friends. Not until, one Sunday at church…my friend Laurie mentioned something about my outfit and instead of asking where I bought it, she instead asked if it came from NY & Co.
3. I am nothing if not a creature of habit. Regardless of the coffee house I enter, you will find me ordering a grande mocha. I am the same way at fast food places or restaurants. I never stray from my normal ordering…regardless of how much I look over the menu!
4. This one I figure some of the friends I have now might be surprised to know…I was homeschooled my junior and senior year of high school. And yes, I still send my children to school. The bonus and incentive for me to agree to homeschooling (something my sister was wanting) was that I got a car at 16. What 16 year old can resist that!
5. I am not an ‘outdoor’ girl…which is sad since I have three boys. I went camping with Heath and the oldest two last summer. We drove to Land Between the Lakes and did the back country camping aka no bathroom camping. Land Between the Lakes is about 2 hours from my house. I went to the bathroom before I left home. I made Heath drive me to the welcome center in the park (10 minutes from our site) to use the bathroom that night and did not go again until I got home the following afternoon. I like a toilet that flushes…brushes are not for me!
6. Heath and I had our first double date with my grandparents…and then had one a month (at least) with them until after we had kids! When we were first married, we could not afford to go out to dinner and my grandparents would always take us out. We would spend hours with them at their house. They became some of our closest friends. So much so, that when we came home from our honeymoon we snuck to their house. We came home the day before we told everyone we were coming. No one knew we were back except my grandparents!

Not enough randomness? You should click here for my 100 things post.

Now for tagging:

Christy, Alan, Brandi, Ladybird, Lori & OCDism

WFWM – Freezing food September 10, 2008

Oh my goodness…I have found a product that I simply can not imagine not having in my kitchen. It goes right next to my silicone basting brush (if I had one – totally on my list!) and my heat resistant spatula/spoon combo! What could it be? It is the Reynolds Handi-Vac. I tend to buy my meat in large portions but I always have trouble keeping freezer burn off of it. Not anymore people! It is great because I can even dice up chicken and place it in the bag. With hunting season quickly approaching you can believe I will be using this tons! There are two different size bags you can get with this to determine the amount of meat that can fit in it. I use the small ones mostly…they hold about a pound and a half of ground beef or 2 chicken breasts cubed.

Best of all, it is relatively inexpensive! I think I paid $10.00 for the actual ‘vac’ and it came with three bags to try and batteries! While it is a little cost out of pocket to begin, it is saving me money by keeping the meat fresher for longer!

Works for me! What works for you? Check out Shannon’s list of participants here!

WFMW – Seeds Family Worship July 23, 2008

I can’t tell you how excited I am about today’s Work For Me Wednesday. We have been listening to Seed’s Family Worship Courage CD over the last couple weeks and we love it! Seriously, love is an understatement. The entire CD is composed of Bible verses set to music. The music is upbeat and relevant…not something that bores the boys quickly.

Isaiah’s teacher at church turned us onto these. She gave all the kids one…and I hear from every parent how great they are. My boys are now quoting scripture! We can swimming in the pool and they break into song! There are four CD’s total (so far) and you can bet we will be purchasing a good amount soon!

Works For Me!

Silas is 2!! July 18, 2008

Today Silas turns two years old. As many people know, Silas was a surprise to me. We were ‘done’ when Joel came into our family. God had such better plans for us! Silas is a delight! He is quirky and funny. He repeats everything. If Joel or Isaiah is trying something you better believe that Silas will be trying it too! He thinks he is one of them.

Silas taught me a lot during his first year. His arrival made a huge impact on me as well. He came by c-section, something that did not happen with the first two. I went into the hospital knowing he would come that way. He tried to make his arrival earlier, much earlier in fact. 5 weeks before our due date we were in the hospital with contractions and I was dilating. The doctor thought I was dehydrated and gave me IV fluids. Apparently, I was not dehydrated as the fluids only intensified everything. I remember crying to Heath in that moment, not in pain, but in fear. I kept saying ‘it isn’t his time’. Thankfully a shot later the contractions ceased…at least that day!

I learned how to trust God in new ways with Silas. A c-section was terrifying to me. The idea of the epidural was frightening. Healing from surgery seemed daunting. Taking home a third little guy seemed overwhelming. Yet, God was always near to me. As we struggled through the first months of a doctor’s office being our second home, He was there. Sometimes I could feel His peace and strength, other times I just had to trust Him. Silas gave me the gift of trust. It wasn’t a gift I thought I needed but once I received it I could not imagine never having it. You can read more about him here.

Silas, Happy 2nd Birthday! You are my little red head full of energy and life. Your silly faces and bright smiles cause everyone to smile a little more. Your ability to go from elated to plain mad in the snap of a finger matches your hair perfectly. Si Man, thanks for giving me more than I can give you. You are my blessing and I thank God for you! I love you!